Panic as world's deadliest disease hits US school
A case of tuberculosis has been confirmed in a school in Oregon.
State officials confirmed a person infected with an active TB infection was recently present at Lane Middle School in Southeast Portland.
Officials are yet to specify whether the person was a student, staff or faculty and when exactly they were present on the premises.
It is believed the individual may have been contagious between September 3, 2024 to May 1, 2025 and during this time, they could have exposed others to TB.
The patient's close contacts have been contacted by the local health department and free blood tests will be offered to the school community in the coming weeks.
Multnomah County Health Officer Dr Richard Bruno assured people that in most cases, casual contact with a person diagnosed with TB will not lead to infection.
He added: 'And most people who become infected will never become ill with TB, especially with current medication regimens.
'While TB can be spread in school settings, we expect that anyone infected would not yet be ill and could be effectively treated with medication.'
TB is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria.
It mainly affects the lungs and can also cause damage to the brain, spinal cord and lymph nodes.
The infection is transmitted through the air when infected people cough or speak.
TB kills more people worldwide than any other infectious disease — around 2million annually.
Over 80 percent of cases and deaths are in low- and middle-income countries in South East Asia, Africa and the Western Pacific region.
In the US, over 10,000 Americans were diagnosed with the infection and 565 died in 2024, according to the CDC.
Those with compromised immune systems, such as people living with HIV, malnutrition or diabetes, have a higher risk of falling ill.
TB cases have been increasing both globally and in the US due to higher international travel and migration.
In 2024, Oregon reported 87 cases of TB according to the Oregon Health Authority and the CDC.
This is a 16.7 percent increase compared to 2023, and the second consecutive year of increase.
Children, older people and those with weak immune systems are most at risk of contracting TB - leading to permanent lung damage, even after successful treatment.
TB is mostly spread through an exchange of germs containing the bacteria through the atmosphere.
Symptoms of active TB in the lungs usually begin gradually and worsen over a few weeks and signs can include coughing up blood or mucus, chest pains, pain with breathing or coughing, fever, chills and night sweats.
People can protect themselves against TB by getting the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, but it is not generally not on the vaccination schedule in the US due to the low risk of infection.
If infected, patients are asked to remain isolated and must take antibiotics for six months to treat TB.
If left untreated, the bacterial infection can damage the lungs and spread to other parts of their body such as the brain, kidneys and spine.
Some people become infected with TB germs that live in the body for years without causing illness. This is known as inactive TB or latent TB.
However without treatment, one in 10 people with inactive TB will get sick with active TB disease, according to the CDC.
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